The 1921 emergency quota act and quotas by nationality[to keep some ethnicities from entering the U.S]

The Emergency Quota Act of 1921, also known as the Emergency Immigration Act, the Immigration Restriction Act of 1921, or the Johnson Quota Act, was a significant piece of legislation in the United States that introduced a quota system to limit immigration based on national origins.

Key Provisions

1. Quota System:
   • The act established a quota system that limited the number of immigrants from any country to 3% of the number of residents from that country living in the United States as of the 1910 Census. This meant that the total number of immigrants allowed from each country was calculated based on the foreign-born population of that nationality already residing in the U.S.

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2. National Origins Formula:
   • This quota system was based on the national origins formula, which favored immigrants from Northern and Western Europe over those from Southern and Eastern Europe or non-European countries. The formula used the 1910 census data to determine the quotas, resulting in higher quotas for countries with larger populations already in the U.S., such as the UK, Germany, and Ireland, and lower quotas for countries with smaller populations, such as Italy, Poland, and other Eastern European nations

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3. Exemptions:
   • The act did not apply to immigrants from Canada, Newfoundland, Cuba, Mexico, or countries in Central and South America, or "adjacent islands." It also did not apply to countries with bilateral agreements with the U.S. or to Asian countries listed in the Immigration Act of 1917 (Asiatic Barred Zone Act)

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4. Professionals and Special Cases:
   • Professionals were exempt from the quota system and could be admitted without regard to their country of origin. This provision allowed skilled workers to enter the U.S. regardless of the quota limits

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Impact and Implementation

• Reduction in Immigration:
  • The act significantly reduced the number of immigrants entering the U.S., particularly from Southern and Eastern Europe. It set an overall cap of approximately 358,000 admissions per year from the Eastern Hemisphere

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• Practical Implementation:
  • The quotas were enforced at Ellis Island rather than at U.S. consulates abroad. This led to situations where ships arriving at the end of a month could be turned away if the quota for that month had been filled, only to be allowed entry the next day when new quota slots opened

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• Social and Political Context:
  • The act was enacted in response to post-World War I fears, including nativism, xenophobia, and concerns about the spread of radical ideologies such as communism and socialism. It also drew on eugenics research and recommendations from the Dillingham Commission

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Legacy

• Permanent Legislation:
  • Although initially intended as temporary legislation, the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 set a precedent for future immigration laws. It was followed by the Immigration Act of 1924, which further reduced quotas and solidified the national origins formula

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The Emergency Quota Act of 1921 marked a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy, introducing numerical limits and a quota system based on national origins, which had lasting impacts on immigration patterns and policies in the United States.